Meet & Upskill.

Insight & Knowledge.

Train & Build.

Professional Development Opportunities

DEGNZ runs a comprehensive programme of professional development workshops, seminars and events for directors and editors with the financial support of the New Zealand Film Commission, and further financial assistance from Vista Foundation, New Zealand On Air, and the Australian Screen Directors Authorship Collecting Society.

For Editors

Editing Workshop

Editing Workshop – Drama or Documentary

A two-day workshop with an acclaimed editor for up to ten editors, covering philosophical and practical approaches to documentary or drama editing, including hands-on exercises and review.

A new initiative, this workshop focuses on raising the skills and knowledge of assistant editors in managing data to ensure smooth and efficient workflow and maximum creative output from the Editorial Department. Structured across a weekend, this workshop will cover in detail those facets considered mandatory minimum requirements for assistant editors.

For Directors

Director Masterclass

Directors Masterclass

A one-day masterclass with a renowned drama and/or documentary director. Past presenters have included Australian feature film and TV drama director Rachel Perkins, US-based UK documentary filmmaker Lucy Walker and comedy director Jonathan Brough. Made possible thanks to support from the NZ Film Commission and the Australian Screen Directors Authorship Collection Society (ASDACS).

Rehearsal & Performance Series

Rehearsal & Performance Series

A regular, hands-on programme of facilitated sessions, each with a highly experienced New Zealand actor or director. This joint initiative between DEGNZ and Equity NZ is intended to provide both directors and actors with an opportunity to practise their craft with expert assistance on hand, improve director-actor communication, forge new networks and take creative risks without consequence. Latest here

Directors Toolkit

Directors Toolkit

A two-day practical guide for emerging directors that covers understanding the script, telling the story visually, inspiring great performances and running a creative set.

It also explores the detail of the shoot, such as pre-production, blocking, choosing shots and lenses, pacing, prioritising, and structuring a day. Actors also come in to allow the facilitator and participants to explore what has been covered. Past facilitators include Peter Burger, Rob Sarkies and Jesse Warn.

Rehearsal Dynamics

Rehearsal Dynamics

A one-day intensive for up to five directors, focused on rehearsal technique and aimed to increase communication skill and offer insight and confidence, prior to moving into production.

Directing Actors

Directing Actors

A one-day workshop led by a highly experienced director and with paid actors, intended to give a small group of emerging directors the opportunity to explore a range of principles, tools and techniques to use in casting, rehearsal and shooting.

Table Reads

Table Reads

Bringing writers, directors and actors together.

Run in conjunction with the New Zealand Writers Guild and Equity NZ, Table Reads gives one writer/director or a writer and director team the opportunity to have their script read by up to six professional actors – a wonderful development tool for advancing the script. Four Table Reads are held per year on Saturdays in Auckland.

Other Events

Young Creators

A programme of events with a mission to inform and inspire younger or emerging directors and editors to build successful, sustainable careers in the screen industry. Latest here

Screenlink

A special networking event held every two or three months, giving DEGNZ members the opportunity to network with members from two other guilds or associations over drinks and nibbles. A speaker, usually from the screen sector, presents on a topic of interest. Latest here

Film Talk

A series of film screenings celebrating the latest in New Zealand cinema in association with Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, Auckland, with the Guild moderating a Q & A after with the filmmaker(s). $12 member discount tickets are available for select sessions. Latest here

Training

The Incubator is a year-long programme consisting of five one-day workshops for up to eight emerging women directors. The Incubator is designed to advance the selected directors’ careers, projects, networks and understanding of the industry through interaction with industry experts from a variety of backgrounds, including development, finance, directing, producing and distribution.

Run with additional financial support from Vista Foundation.

TV Drama Director Attachments

An ongoing paid attachment scheme with the financial support of NZ On Air. Our TV Drama Director Attachments pairs one emerging director with a highly-experienced drama director to shadow on a telefeature or TV drama series. Previous productions have included Westside, Shortland Street and Ash vs Evil Dead.

The selected attachment gets to attend pre-production meetings, shoots and editing. At the discretion of the drama director and production company, the attachment may also direct for the production either one or more scenes, 2nd unit and/or pickups.

Feature Film Editing Attachments

A new, ongoing DEGNZ initiative in 2018 that sees one emerging drama editor each time shadow a highly experienced practitioner on a telefeature or feature film. The attachment can be expected to attend rough cut, fine cut and screenings for the director/producer/broadcaster/funder, with the opportunity to edit on the production at the sole discretion of the production team.

Intended for emerging editors who want to progress on to a career as a feature film editor. The initiative allows quality learning time between editor and attachment, and at the interface where feedback and approvals occur.

“Being a part of the DEGNZ’s Incubator has been a highly motivating and encouraging experience. Not only has it been an opportunity to increase my knowledge and skills in a number of areas relating to the business and practical side of filmmaking, but we heard from a range of directors and producers about how they work and their experiences in the industry. It is rare to get a chance to talk frankly with such experienced practitioners, but this programme created a space in which such useful dialogue could take place. The Incubator also provided regular meetings with other filmmakers at the same stage in their career.”

Catherine BisleyEmerging Women Filmmakers Incubator

“I have been a member of DEGNZ for several years now, and will keep paying my sub without hesitation because it is a great organisation that fills a gap. Every year, DEGNZ organises numerous workshops that serve to inspire, motivate and, most importantly, up-skill a sector of the film community that struggles to find opportunities to practise their craft. Every workshop I have been on has been excellent – professionally run, high quality and useful. They also hold regular networking events that are vital for this industry as many of us work in isolation and use these occasions to build connections and market ourselves.”